Doda, Sep 12: Security was heightened in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, even as an uneasy calm prevailed over the mountainous region after authorities clamped prohibitory restrictions for the fourth consecutive day.

Several people have been detained in Doda following violent clashes between security forces and protestors agitating against the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mehraj Malik under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) earlier this week. The Doda MLA, who was arrested for disturbing the public order, was later lodged in Kathua jail.

On Wednesday evening, police had held a peace committee meeting chaired by Deputy Inspector General of Police Shridhar Patil to expedite restoration of peace and normalcy in the region.

Prohibitory orders remained in force in Doda and Bhalessa towns, where mobile internet and Wi-Fi services continued to remain suspended as a precautionary measure.

“The situation remained calm overnight with no fresh protests. However, elaborate security measures are in place, with heightened security in sensitive areas,” said an official.

The security has been beefed up and patrolling intensified in Doda town in view of the Friday prayers, he said.

The deployment was strengthened around Doda town, Bhaderwah, Gandoh and Thathri amid high tensions over alleged administrative high-handedness. Concertina wires were installed near government offices to prevent untoward incidents.

Police vehicles patrolled the area, making announcements urging residents to stay indoors.

In Bhaderwah town nevertheless, a semblance of normalcy prevailed with shops and business establishments operating on Friday.

DIG Shridhar Patil assured people that the situation is almost under control. “We want to tell the people of Chenab Valley that the situation is by and large under control. Efforts are on to bring back complete normalcy. We are moving towards that,” the DIG told reporters on Thursday night.

He said around 40 citizens from Doda city and surrounding areas participated in discussions at the meeting, during which they shared valuable suggestions.

“I want to thank the people of Doda for their cooperation in ensuring peace. We had detained 60-70 people during the incident; several of them have been released on bonds. There are no casualties,” he said.

The district saw protests and violent clashes on Monday and Wednesday as protesters tried to defy restrictions, prompting the security personnel to resort to baton charges at several places. Several protesters were detained, while some of them were released later.

Eight police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police and a station house officer, were reportedly injured during the clashes.

The chief education officer has ordered that all schools in the district will remain closed until Sunday. The business establishments would also remain shut.

Describing Malik as a government critic, the district administration said his arrest was based on “provocative speeches and abusive language” on social media, allegedly aimed at disturbing peace.

In the meantime, Malik’s father Shamas Din Malik has appealed for his son’s release, stating he no longer wished to pursue the matter in courts. “I want my son back. I met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who said he would see what he could do,” he said.

Shamas Udin, who was briefly hospitalised after collapsing from weakness and stress following his son’s detention, apologised for the language used by his son and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to facilitate his release.

The AAP has accused the Central government of targeting the party politically. At a protest in Jammu, AAP MP Sanjay Singh on Wednesday condemned the arrest, stating the party would continue its struggle “against injustice on the streets, in Parliament, and if necessary, in the Supreme Court.”

On Thursday, high drama unfolded at Circuit House in Srinagar as former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah was prevented from meeting AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who was detained on the premises to prevent him from protesting against Malik’s arrest.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday night described the situation in Doda as “deeply disturbing,” criticising the administration’s handling of the unrest.

“An internet blackout has been imposed, schools have been shut, and curfew has been enforced in Doda district. Alarming reports suggest that roads are being deliberately blocked, depriving people of their fundamental right to movement,” she said.

This is the first time a sitting MLA in Jammu and Kashmir has been taken into custody under the stringent law, which allows detention without charge or trial for up to two years in some cases.

Srinagar, Sep 12: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has held that under Muslim Personal Law, a mother has the first claim to the custody of her minor children, and this right cannot be taken away unless she is disqualified on recognised legal grounds. The Court emphasised that the welfare and stability of the children must guide all custody decisions.

The ruling was delivered by Justice Javed Iqbal Wani while allowing an appeal against an order of the 4th Additional District Judge Srinagar, which had directed that custody of two minors be handed over to their father.

The case arose after a marital dispute between the parties, which ended in divorce. The mother had earlier been granted custody of the children by a court in Qatar, while the father was given visitation rights. After moving to Kashmir with her children in 2022, the mother faced fresh custody proceedings initiated by the father, who sought to take the children back abroad.

The Court made a clear distinction between guardianship and custody, observing that while a father is recognised as the natural guardian, custody is concerned with day-to-day care, affection and upbringing. It described custody as a right of the child rather than a privilege of either parent, and noted that Islamic jurisprudence accords priority to the mother during a child’s formative years.

On examining the facts, Justice Wani observed that the children had already settled with their mother in Kashmir, and removing them from that environment would not serve their welfare. The Court therefore set aside the order granting custody to the father.

At the same time, the Bench allowed the father interim custody during his visits to Srinagar, up to five days at a time and on special occasions like Eid, provided it does not disrupt the children’s education or comfort.

The appeal, titled Sana Aftab v. Mohtashem Billah Malik, was disposed of with liberty for either party to approach the competent court if circumstances change in future. [KNT]

Srinagar, Sept 12: Mubashir Amin, a Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officer of the 2013 batch, has been selected for the prestigious Chevening Award 2025-26 to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Policy at SOAS University of London, beginning September 2025.

An engineering graduate, Amin brings with him over 12 years of experience in the state civil services, having served at the cutting-edge level of governance.

Alongside his administrative career, he has been an active member of the Executive Council of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), J&K Branch, and has contributed to research and publications in the fields of governance and public policy.

The Chevening Scholarship, the UK government’s flagship international award programme, offers emerging leaders an opportunity to study in the UK, build networks, and contribute to positive change in their home countries.

“Chevening Scholars are heading to the UK to learn new skills, make lifelong connections, and create lasting impact. As he embarks on this transformative journey, we wish him every success and look forward to his contributions towards shaping India’s growth story in the future,” the programme said.

Qazigund, Sept 12: After remaining closed for nearly 16 days, the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway was reopened for heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) on the Kashmir side Thursday, ending days of anxiety and losses for truckers and fruit growers.

Officials said that by Thursday evening, around 1,200 trucks had crossed Qazigund, nearly 40 per cent of them carrying apples.

The highway had remained shut since August 26 due to landslides, flash floods, and major road damage in Udhampur and Ramban.

For truckers who had spent sleepless nights parked along the road, the reopening was nothing short of a lifeline.

“For 16 days, I slept inside my truck, eating whatever little food I could manage. My apples were rotting inside, and every day I thought of returning home empty-handed,” said Mohammad Yousuf, a driver from Baramulla, as his vehicle finally moved past the Qazigund tunnel.

The prolonged closure had pushed many into debt, with perishable fruit consignments stuck on roads at the peak of Kashmir’s apple season.

“I was worried about my family. The fruit boxes I carry belong to a grower in Pulwama. If they get damaged, I will have to bear the brunt. Today, when I finally drove out, it felt like a burden lifted from my chest,” said Gull Mohammad Bhat, another driver from Pampore.

The convoy’s slow but steady movement brought visible relief to the faces of those who had been waiting in long queues stretching from Anantnag outskirts to the Qazigund tunnel.

“It was not just about business losses; we were living on the roadside, away from our families, in the scorching sun and rain. I don’t remember such a long blockade in recent years,” said Ashiq Hussin Shah, a driver from Baramulla—(KNO)